Gaza (Palestine Foundation Information Center) A recent research paper, issued by Al-Quds International Foundation, concluded that the “epic prostration” settlers have recently been performing at Al-Aqsa Mosque is an old Talmudic ritual that has been recently reactivated particularly with the aim to Judaize and change the Islamic identity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque based on previous biblical teachings, using religiosity as a tool of colonialism and genocide.
According to the paper entitled “Epic prostration: A colonial invention of rituals” by Ziyad Ebhais, researcher concerned with Jerusalem affairs, there are three types of prostration according to biblical teachings, the first is conducted by bending while standing, the second is by putting the knees on the ground and the face on the floor, and the third is performed by lying the whole body on the ground and known as the “epic prostration” which is considered the greatest form of prostration.
The paper claims that the performance of prostration in its current form as being performed collectively by groups of settlers at any time in the year is a creation of a new ritual that deals with the Al-Aqsa Mosque as if it were the alleged Solomon’s Temple, with the goal to change the Islamic identity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
